Stop funding Ford Kenya party, PLWDs tell Registrar of Political Parties

Ford-Kenya Disability League Secretariat on 23rd July 2024 wrote to The Registrar of Political Parties outlining their concerns among them violation of the Political Parties’ code of conduct by the party leadership.

speaking to ikuweikuwe.com an official who demanded anonymity said; “Ford Kenya party has continuously neglected persons with disabilities. PLWDs have taken a bold step to stop the funding to the party for discrimination. Don’t mention me.”

The letter that was copied to Hon. Moses Wetangula – Party Leader FORD-K, Hon. John Chikati – Secretary General FORD-K, Nasri Sahal – Treasurer FORD-K and The Auditor General… reads in part;

RE: ENFORCEMENT OF FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF DISABILITY LEAGUE’S SHARE OF POLITICAL PARTY’S FUND.

Greetings from the FORD-K Disability League Fraternity,

People With Disability (PWD) have for a long time been marginalized in leadership and more so in political processes. Our voices have been ignored. We have been used as instruments of compliance but marginalized in decision-making as well as denied access to financial resources allocated for use to enhance comprehensive inclusion and championing of our political rights. This is a blatant violation of the Political Parties’ code of conduct and specifically Code 5(a), 6(d & h) as highlighted in the first schedule of the Political Parties Act.

The Political Parties Act 34(a) gives The Registrar of Political Parties Power to monitor, investigate, and supervise political parties to ensure compliance with the Political Parties Act. Having experienced matters mentioned in paragraph one firsthand as The Disability League, we call upon your office to exercise its power to ensure that the rights and aspirations of PWDs in the Party are held in high regard and to constitutional standards. This will stop the tradition where political parties only incorporate PWDs for compliance and thus will guarantee our meaningful contribution to the FORD-KENYA party as well as the enhancement of our political rights.

To this effect, we recommend that:

1. There be a comprehensive audit of Political Parties Funds allocated to the Disability League for the years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024. How many activities did the Disability League conduct? Who were the recipients and signatories to the funds?

2. Suspend the disbursement of political parties’ funds to the Party until a proper mechanism is put in place to account for allocation meant for disability League. Of utmost importance is:

• Operationalization of Disability League Bank Account to enhance transparency and accountability of funds allocated to the Disability League that have been received from the mother party.

• Assignment of signatories to Disability League funds by the Disability League leadership. The League has the structure and competent Leadership that guarantees transparency and accountability of resources allocated to it

• Adoption of policy to entrench submission of quarterly reports on activities and usage of funds by disability League to Registrar of Political P for monitoring, evaluation, and compliance

• Adoption of an Audit policy that specifically highlights the usage of funds assigned to disability League in the published financial report of political parties

1. Comprehensive inclusion of PWDs in the Leadership structure of the FORD-KENYA Party. Disability is diverse and the inclusion of competent persons with disability will bring new perspectives and fresh insights into the operations of the party.

We believe that our proposals will enhance good governance in the party, protect the Dignity of PWD, and make political parties safe spaces for PWDs and other SIGs to exercise their political rights without fear, discrimination, and victimization.

~ Lydia Ochieng, Secretary-General- Ford-K Disability League. ~

Our attempt to reach the Party leader for a rejoinder was futile.